Caterham Super 7 Reliability, MOT Pass Rate & Common Faults
Free Caterham Super 7 car check
Is the Caterham Super 7 reliable? We analysed 10,821 real MOT tests across 781 vehicles to find out.
Got a specific Caterham Super 7? Enter the reg for a free check:
The Caterham Super 7 is above average for reliability based on real UK MOT data. Common problems include stop lamp not working, steering rack gaiter split and fog lamp not working. Here's everything you need to know before buying a used Caterham Super 7.
Caterham Super 7 Number Plates
Number plates registered to a Caterham Super 7. Click on any registration for full vehicle details — including MOT history, mileage records, previous owners and damage history.
Caterham Super 7 MOT Pass Rate by Year
How likely is a Caterham Super 7 to pass its MOT? Here's the pass rate for each registration year, newest first.
Caterham Super 7 Problems — What Goes Wrong?
The most common reasons a Caterham Super 7 fails its MOT, ranked by how often they occur. Check for these problems before you buy.
Caterham Super 7 Mileage — What's Normal?
How many miles does a typical Caterham Super 7 owner drive per year? Use this to check if a car you're looking at has suspiciously low or high mileage.
Caterham Super 7 MOT Data by Registration Year
Full breakdown of pass rate and mileage for each year. Use this to compare the Caterham Super 7 year you're looking at.
| Year | Tests | Pass Rate | Low Mi. | Typical Mi. | High Mi. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | 255 | 86.3% | 4,884 | 8,912 | 16,201 |
| 2011 | 312 | 87.8% | 5,401 | 7,660 | 12,560 |
| 2010 | 463 | 89.0% | 6,335 | 12,428 | 18,060 |
| 2009 | 524 | 85.7% | 5,245 | 11,515 | 21,544 |
| 2008 | 650 | 87.8% | 5,775 | 11,264 | 17,690 |
| 2007 | 396 | 88.4% | 8,850 | 12,803 | 21,096 |
| 2006 | 431 | 89.1% | 7,150 | 13,647 | 19,470 |
| 2005 | 359 | 83.8% | 8,011 | 14,751 | 20,260 |
| 2004 | 528 | 85.2% | 7,690 | 12,251 | 18,996 |
| 2003 | 452 | 86.3% | 7,304 | 12,460 | 25,402 |
| 2002 | 520 | 86.3% | 8,006 | 14,341 | 24,142 |
| 2001 | 480 | 85.4% | 8,751 | 14,212 | 22,865 |
| 2000 | 400 | 82.5% | 9,260 | 13,973 | 20,274 |
| 1999 | 668 | 82.8% | 10,180 | 17,164 | 28,621 |
| 1998 | 432 | 81.5% | 12,284 | 18,383 | 25,398 |
| 1997 | 820 | 87.2% | 9,548 | 17,365 | 27,062 |
| 1996 | 476 | 84.0% | 9,688 | 19,701 | 29,224 |
| 1995 | 286 | 83.9% | 12,870 | 21,290 | 36,552 |
| 1994 | 362 | 82.6% | 14,683 | 26,476 | 40,953 |
| 1993 | 219 | 84.5% | 7,335 | 18,805 | 32,040 |
How Long Does a Caterham Super 7 Last?
Based on 781 Caterham Super 7 vehicles on UK roads.
Caterham Super 7 Mileage Distribution
Total mileage recorded across all Caterham Super 7 MOT tests. If the car you're looking at is above the 75th percentile, it's done more miles than most.
Best Year to Buy a Used Caterham Super 7
Based on MOT pass rates across all registration years with sufficient test data.
89.1% MOT pass rate from 431 tests
75.3% MOT pass rate from 89 tests
The best year to buy a used Caterham Super 7 is 2006, which has the highest MOT pass rate at 89.1% across 431 tests. The 1986 model year has the lowest pass rate at 75.3% — if you're looking at one from that year, budget for potential repairs and get a thorough pre-purchase inspection.
How Does the Caterham Super 7 Compare?
MOT pass rates compared to similar models. Click any model for the full breakdown.
| Model | Pass Rate | Tests | Typical Mileage | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Caterham Super 7 THIS CAR | 85.4% | 10,821 | 15,370 mi | 55 yrs |
| Caterham Seven (S3) | 86.1% | 32,485 | 18,286 mi | 55 yrs |
| Caterham Unknown | 88.6% | 6,813 | 5,804 mi | 17 yrs |
| Caterham Seven | 87.5% | 6,710 | 16,569 mi | 55 yrs |
| BMW X2 XDRIVE20D M Sport X Auto | 86.7% | 5,175 | 35,935 mi | — yrs |
Compared to the Caterham Seven (S3) (86.1% pass rate) and the Caterham Unknown (88.6% pass rate), the Caterham Super 7 trails behind on MOT reliability.
Found a Caterham Super 7 you like?
Run a full vehicle history check on the specific car. See finance, stolen, write-off, mileage and MOT data for that exact vehicle.
Check a specific Caterham Super 7Should you buy a used Caterham Super 7?
The Caterham Super 7 has an overall MOT pass rate of 85.4% across 10,821 real MOT tests — comfortably above the UK average, which puts it among the more reliable models on UK roads.
The most common problems on the Caterham Super 7 are stop lamp not working (140 recorded failures), steering rack gaiter split (93), and fog lamp not working (85). These are the faults most likely to cause an MOT failure on this model, so check for them carefully on any test drive or pre-purchase inspection. Many are wear-and-tear items that can be budgeted for, but a car that's already failing on multiple fronts may signal neglected maintenance.
A typical Caterham Super 7 owner drives around 519 miles per year. If the car you're looking at is significantly above this, expect more wear on suspension, brakes and tyres. If it's well below, the vehicle may have been sitting unused — check for perished rubber, corroded discs and stale fluids.
In terms of longevity, most Caterham Super 7 models stay on UK roads for around 55 years — a strong showing that suggests solid build quality and readily available parts. If you're buying one that's already approaching that window, the data suggests it has plenty of life left provided it's been maintained.
Before committing to a purchase, we recommend running a full vehicle history check on the specific car. This will reveal any outstanding finance, stolen markers, write-off history and mileage discrepancies that the seller may not disclose — and that the MOT data alone can't tell you.